Sidney bramall



s BRAM'ALL.-

No. 529,700. Patented Nov. 27, `1894.

BRAMALL. l

.2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

BICYCLE.

(No Model.)

. No. 529,700.. Patented-Nova?,1894.

' lUNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY BRAMALL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,700, dated November27, 1894.

Application filed December 27,1893. Seria] No. 494,837. (No model.)Patented in Belgium December 30, 1893. No. 107,608,

and in'France February 16, 1894. No. 234,321.

.To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY BRAMALL, asubject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at 2O HighHolborn, London, in the countyof Middlesex, England, have invented certain newl and usefulImprovements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification, thesame having been patented in France February 16, 1894,*No. 234,321, andin Belgium December 30, 1893, No. 107,608.

These improvementsrare illustrated in the accempanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is aside elevation of a bicycle with the lmproveinentsapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the improvements when inaction. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. r

Like letters of reference referto like parts throughout the severalviews.

Myinvention secures steadiness of the machine at starting; balancing ofthe machine without absolutely stopping it in the midst of town tralic;and a perfect rest for the cyclist .when desired. It adds very littletothe weight of the machine, and can easily be applied at a trillingcost t0 about ninety per cent. of existing machines without altering orweakening their frames. According to my invention I attach in directline with the nearly upright bar b a short rod, a, to the treadle bossin any convenient manner, preferably by a screw which may easily bewithdrawn when it may be required to detach the apparatus hereinafterdescribed. Around the rod, a, I place a tube or casing, c, to the lowerend of which I attach a cross-bar, d, which is curved and furnished ateither of its ends with a claw, e, within which is placed an indiarubber or other suitable ball or roller, f, which, when actuated by themeans hereinafter described, rotates in the same direction as the wheelsof the bicycle. The positions of the curved cross-bar, and balls orrollers when not in use are conveniently within the radius of the pedalsof n the bicycle, and at a suitable distance from the ground in thedirection of the bicycle wheels. The bar, b, is inclosed for aconvenient part of its length in a similar tube or casing, c', to thetube or casing, c, hereinbefore referred to. lThe upper part of the tubeor casing, c', is furnished with a handle,

g, facing front or rear as may be desired, and in a means to the upperend of a rod or bolt, lo,

which is bent inward and outward, and the lower end of which rod isaffixed to a ring or band, c3, corresponding to the ring or band, c2,attached to the upper end of the tube or casing, c'. In a convenientposition near the handle, g, 1 may aftixto the tube or casing, c', asmall pin,j, which may be received into a convenient recess in the bar,b. Around the bar, b, and attached at its lower end to the treadle boss,and at its upper end to the ring or band, c2, at the bottom of the tubeor casing, c', is a spiral spring, Z.

Having described the several parts of which my invention consists, Iproceed to explain. the manner in which these parts are actuated, andtheir effects when actuated. The handle, g, being pressed downward untilit has traveled for about two inches in the slot, 7L, the pin or stud,t', impinges on the tube or casing, c', causing it to revolve a quarterturn. Further pressure of the handle, g, by hand or foot causes thetubes or casings, c, and c', to descend until thel balls or rollers f,freach the ground at right angles to their normal positions. Then thecyclist by keeping the handle,g, pressed down may at his option move onslowly or stop altogether in an/upright position. When the pressure isremoved from the handle the apparatus retires to its normal position,and thus enables the rider to proceed at any desired speed. Should hedesire to dismount and leave his machine he may insert the pin,j, in arecess ou the bar, b,.and thus cause the machine to stand upright atlrest.

It is obvious that by the arrangement herein specified great assistanceis given not only to ordinary cyclists in town and country, but also tolady cyclists, military cyclists, and beginners. i

Having now particularly describedand ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner thesame is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In combination with the. wheels and IOO treadles of abicyle, the upright rods a b attached to the treadle boss, the sleeves cc' sliding on them respectively, a device connecting the said sleeves inorder that they may move together, a replacing spring bearing againstone of the said sleeves, and a support attached to the lower sleeve andarranged to press against the ground when the said sleeve is lowered,for the purpose settorth.

2. In combination with the wheels and frame of a bicycle, upright rods ab attached to the treadle boss, sleeves c c capable of longitudinal andaxial motion on the said rods respectively, a replacing spring bearingagainst one of the said sleeves, a cross-bar cl carried by thelowersleeve c, wheels f mounted in the said cross bar and normally in linewith the direction of motion, and a device connecting the said sleevesto move together, one of the said sleeves being provided with a slothwhich is partly longitudinal partly oblique and receives a stud on therod over which the said sleeve moves in order that the depression of thesaid sleeve may cause the wheels fto turn across the line of motion ofthe machine as they approach the ground and act as a supportsubstantially as set forth.

3. In abicycle the combination of the wheels and frame With the uprightrods a b, the sleeves c c moving longitudinally and axially thereon, thebolt or rod 7c connecting the said sleeves, the handle g on the uppersleeve, the rings or bands c? o3 on the said sleeves respectively, thepin i of the rod b received in the slot h of rod b, the pin j attachedto the said sleeve and fitting into a recess, the said rod above it, thereplacing spring l, a cross-bar d carried by the lower sleeve c, andWheelsf mounted in the said cross-bar and arranged to press against theground when said sleeve is lowered, substantially as set forth.

Dated this list day of November, 1893.

SIDNEY BRAMALL.

Witnesses:

P. OHALLORAN, P. H. BAILY.

